STAND. COM. REP. NO.  214-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 425

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Public Utilities Commission in performing its duties to consider the need for a diverse portfolio of fossil fuel resources and to maximize the efficiency of utility generation assets to mitigate supply disruptions and cost impacts on electricity ratepayers.

The Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.  Life of the Land, the Blue Planet Foundation, the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance, and four individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that this measure in no way diminishes or subverts the obligation of Hawaii's electric utilities to meet Hawaii's renewable portfolio standards.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 425, H.D. 2, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

DENNY COFFMAN, Chair